Richard Davies

Richard Davies is a leading British banking and fintech executive, recognised for his expertise in the future of payments, digital banking and the growing impact of agentic AI on commerce. As CEO of Allica Bank, he leads one of Europe’s fastest-growing fintech businesses, using technology and artificial intelligence to transform banking for established SMEs. His experience across traditional banks and disruptive fintechs gives him a distinctive perspective on how payments and financial services are evolving. Richard explores how autonomous AI agents could reshape transactions, customer journeys and financial decision-making, providing organisations with practical insights into the next generation of commerce.

Richard began his career in strategy at LEK Consulting before progressing through senior strategy and corporate banking positions at Lloyds TSB and Barclays. At Barclays, he moved from strategy into frontline leadership, overseeing SME and corporate banking before becoming Managing Director for Global Corporates. He later led the development and licensing process for OakNorth, helping establish the challenger bank’s proposition, executive team and operating model. Richard subsequently became Chief Operating Officer of HSBC’s UK Commercial Bank, overseeing strategy, digital transformation, lending products, operations, risk and major regulatory programmes. He later became Global Head of Propositions and SME Digital at HSBC before joining TSB to lead SME banking. He then became Group COO and CEO of Banking at Revolut, helping the fintech scale from five million to 15 million customers and expand its international banking operations.

Since becoming CEO of Allica Bank, Richard has overseen exceptional growth. Allica was named the UK’s fastest-growing technology company in the Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 in both 2023 and 2024, before being ranked the second fastest-growing company in Europe by the Financial Times in 2025. His wider governance experience includes serving as a Non-Executive Director of Zepz and holding previous board positions at Vizolution and HSBC entities. Allica’s continued innovation has also earned industry recognition, including becoming a finalist for AI Business of the Year at the 2026 British Business Bank Awards.

Richard is hired as a speaker because he combines senior leadership experience with first-hand knowledge of the technologies reshaping banking, payments and commerce. A speaker at FinovateEurope and SXSW London, he brings major industry stage experience to discussions surrounding fintech innovation and the future of financial services. Drawing on experience spanning Barclays, HSBC, OakNorth, Revolut and Allica, he helps audiences understand how commerce may evolve as AI agents increasingly interact with financial infrastructure on behalf of businesses and consumers. Hire Richard today via Champions Speakers.